Shady Hill, 16 June, 1861.
. . . Here at home
we are all well, — and leading such tranquil lives that the contrast between
them and the labours, anxieties, and sorrows of the war, is brought very
strikingly home to our hearts. I know you must have felt very deeply the death
of Theodore Winthrop. The loss of such men as he makes us feel how heavy a
price the country has to pay for the support of the principles that are at
stake. It is sad that he should have fallen so early in the struggle, and in
such fulness of life. But no lover of his country, of liberty or of peace,
would desire to change the manner of his death. Few men in our days have been
happy enough to be called to die for a principle, or for their country's sake.
There is real glory and joy in dying while doing good service in this war.
I am told that
Winthrop's article, which is to appear in the “Atlantic” this week is as full
of spirit and manliness as the one that came out last month. But with what a
solemn commentary will it be read.
Our regiments
enlisted for the war are going off one after another. The best of them is
Gordon's,1 — so called from its colonel who is a West Pointer. It is officered
throughout by gentlemen, and its ranks are full of fine fellows. But, I forget,
you know all about it, and your hearts will follow it and go with it wherever
it goes. . . .
SOURCE: Sara Norton and M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Letters
of Charles Eliot Norton, Volume 1, p. 234-5
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